Let me explain. The "best" cheesesteak in Philly is really depends on "who" you talk to that day.

I have stood on line at both Geno's and Pat's for a half hour with tourists AND locals. However, I have also heard from locals that they never go to Pat's and Geno's because of "too many tourists". Doesn't mean it is not authentic nor it isn't very good. It just means that they have a place they like better.

There is also Tony Luke's which is nearly the docks and the sports stadiums.

I am not discouraging you from going to Pat's or Geno's because that's where I usually go when I am there. I am not a local, but I have been to Philly at least 50 times in my life for short or overnight stays.

I am just saying you may hear some bellyaching or arrogance from some locals who don't like Pat's or Geno's. Cheesesteak to Philadelphians is a very personal choice to them and I am sure fistfights have broken out over the d@mn things. It's a zealotry only matched by another Philly favorite, Tastykake.

Go to Pat's or Geno's ot Tony Luke's; they all cater to locals AND trust me advertise in all the tourists rags, magazines and in hotel TV tourist channels. Now there are others and you may hear about them, I just never have gone, but I am sure some local will insist that this "other" place is better.

- HobokenFlyer

Addendum: Here is a 2001 Survey from citysearch.com (take with grain of salt because it's a opinion poll of users and sometimes there could be a fix. But it's a good list of "other" steak places besides Pat's or Geno's):

http://philadelphia.citysearch.com/best/results/18

I don't know if you remember the band, Boys II Men? But one of their big songs was MotownPhilly. Well in the video for that song and I think also "The End of the World" they are seen singing and dancing in front of Geno's.



[This message has been edited by HobokenFlyer (edited Jan 27, 2004).]